FORT MYERS, FL – Senior
Morgan Ross notched five RBI on the day, while junior transfer
Rachel Mertens pitched a two-hit shutout in Nazareth's second contest, as the Golden Flyers opened the season with a pair of wins Sunday morning. Nazareth opened with a 6-5 victory over Marian (Wisc.) in game one, before blanking Drew (N.J.) its second matchup.
Nazareth is now 2-0 on the season.
Game 1: Nazareth 6, Marian 5Nazareth trailed after one inning of play, 2-1.
Maureen Rogers brought home Ross in the first inning on a sacrifice fly.
The Golden Flyers responded in their next at-bats, pulling ahead 4-2 after the second inning. Ross smashed a double to left center to score
Meghan Barry and
Taylor Turcsik. The very next batter,
Sarah Papponetti singled to score Ross.
Ross tacked on her final RBI of the game on a solo shot in the fourth to give Nazareth a 6-2 advantage.
Nicole White had a solid first showing allowing five runs (three earned) in 5.1 innings on just four hits, while striking out five.
Marian capitalized on a triple off line in the fifth to come to within 6-4 before
Danae Wetherbee came in relief. Wetherbee took care of the two batters she faced, although the Sabres scored their final run of the game on a failed pickoff from the catcher to third base.
Ross finished 3-for-4 and Papponetti was 2-for-4.
Game 2: Nazareth 6, Drew 0Nazareth first broke through in the third when Ross ripped a double off the fence to score Barry. Freshman
Marissa Tortora notched her first collegiate RBI to give the Golden Flyers a 2-0 advantage.
In the fifth inning, Ross garnered a SAC fly to push
Ann Stull across.
Leading 3-0 in the sixth, Nazareth loaded the bases on the first three batters. After two consecutive outs, Stull delivered a single to score
Stephanie Mongelli and
Carly Pike.
Pike doubled in the seventh for Nazareth's final run.
Rogers led the way on 2-for-3 hitting.
Mertens pitched seven scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks.
Nazareth returns to action on Monday when it will take on Rockford (Ill.) at 9 a.m. and Kenyon (Ohio) at 1 p.m.